When We Were Mates (Demetra and Emris) novel Chapter 84

Demetra.

One day ago.

Before the bonding ceremony.

“The moment Ronin finds out what you’re doing, he’s going to stop you. You think he’s going to let his only daughter marry a stranger just so she can save the pack?” Aunt Allison crosses her arms, her shadow falling over me where I stand in the garden.

“It’s exactly because of him I’m doing this.” I squint against the sun, waiting for the vans to roll in with Alpha Seth, Sabrina, and the elders who are supposed to witness this whole thing and make it official.

Problem is, Dad doesn’t know about this. He’s busy attending to the other packs, making sure we don’t have casualties from the Loo Fever. I told Slade not to tell him yet.

Yesterday, I saw something and I know Slade saw it too.

There was hesitation from my dad when we got back from the Covenant pack about the interview we agreed to. Emris gave us a date by text message as soon as we got home.

An hesitation like that from my dad means there’s something about what happened to Alpha Kael that he may not want to share.

There’s no time to find out what it is. And I want to believe that my father would never be capable of harming Emris’s father. My dad is a good man so I will protect whatever truth he’s hiding, even if I don’t understand it yet.

“I’ll already be bonded to Alpha Seth by then, so it won’t matter,” I say, twisting my hands together while Scotty rushes to fix my hair like this is some normal event and not me quietly wrecking my own life.

“I would have loved if we hosted a ball iso you could meet more Alphas.” Scotty hums, arranging a curl behind my ear. “But I suppose Alpha Seth is a diamond already. His pack has always been the most important, so…”

“Scotty, please,” Allison says gently. “Do you really think she’s doing this with a happy heart? She’s doing it for the pack. Don’t dress her up like she’s excited.”

“He’s here.” Tiffany bursts out from the back door of the garden. “Slade is bringing them in.”

“Oh shit,” I blurt.

Every one of them turns toward me.

I really thought I was ready. I really thought I could stand here and tell another man I was going to bond with him instead. But now that it’s happening, now that it’s real. I can’t seem to catch my breath.

LLL

“You look like you’re having a panic attack, Demetra.“

Because I am.

My chest tightens so hard it almost hurts to stand. Then tears spill down my cheeks before I can stop them. If Slade sees the like this, he’s going to call the whole thing off with Alpha Seth. Because he won’t bear to watch mu do this.

1/4

10:21 am Ppp.

Chapter 84

“Give me a minute,” I whisper, backing away. “I’ll be right back.”

I hurry past them, and Tiffany steps out of the way so I can escape into the hallway before the living room.

The second I get there. I shut my eyes and try to breathe.

But it’s not easy.

My heart hurts in a way that feels physical, like someone is gripping it in one fist and refusing to let go. It’s the same kind of pain I felt the day I left the Black Covenant Pack. I slide down to the floor, wrap my arms around myself, and count the breaths slowly, just like I’ve had to teach myself to do when the pain gets too loud.

One.

Two.

Three.

Four.

Five.

My wolf is fighting me. She doesn’t want this. She’s thrashing inside my chest, howling for me to stop. The pain pulses with every heartbeat, with every thought of Emris’s face, with every memory of his hands on my skin, his voice in my ear, his tears on his cheeks when I told him to reject me.

By the time I reach the end, I’m shaking less, but not enough.

So I do it again. Eventually, the air feels like it belongs to me again.

I wipe my face, stand, smooth my dress and walk back toward the sitting area, where I can already hear voices.

Aunt Allison is speaking to Slade when I step in. I hope she isn’t telling him I was falling apart just a minute ago. Before I can even decide where to look, a man rises from the couch and extends his hand.

Alpha Seth.

He’s taller than me…maybe six foot two, broad but not bulky, the kind of build that comes from healing more than fighting. Dark hair curls softly around his face, loose and unstyled. He wears glasses. His skin is warm brown, like sun–soaked earth, and there’s a kindness in his expression that I wasn’t expecting.

He smiles at me, and it reaches his eyes.

“Hello, Demetra. I’m Seth Irish.”

I take his hand and force a smile. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Seth.”

His eyes brighten a little as he shakes my hand, and I can feel everyone watching us. Slade. Aunt Allison. Scotty. The elders. “Can everyone please give us some space?” I glance quickly at Tiffany, who immediately starts herding them out. When they’re gone, I use my hand to shakily gesture for Seth to sit. Then I lower myself onto the couch across from him, I don’t even know how to start.

I have a whole daughter coming with me. And I haven’t told Amira about any of these changes. She’s already choose with Milo,

10:21 am

Chapter 84

PPP.

She calls Emris Dad. And I will be leaving our pack when I get bonded to Seth. Will he even accept my daughter? Will he….

I can’t imagine being intimate with another wolf. Much less bearing the pups of another wolf. It’s become so hard to accept, especially after the last few months, weeks, days I’ve spent in the presence of Emris.

To be another man’s wife-

Seth watches me with patient eyes.

“Slade already told me why you’re doing this. So I don’t want you to feel… burdened.”

My eyes widen. “Alpha Seth, I-“

“I don’t have a mate. Well, maybe I do, but she’s nowhere to be found. So you don’t have to worry about another some active bond coming between you and I.”

“But I have a Trybrid mate.” I try to sound confident. “And he hasn’t rejected me.”

“That’s because he won’t. Slade told me you’re doing this to weaken his wolf, so you can eventually force a rejection. So, definitely I know you want out of it.”

I let out a breath. “Well, other than that fact, I’m also using you for the protection of my pack.” I attempt a joke to cut the tension and he chuckles warmly.

“Well, how can I say no to being used by Demetra Pride?” He leans back slightly and I see something flirty there. “All the single Alphas have been waiting for the moment you looked their way. It would be my pleasure to have you as the Luna of my pack.”

My heart gives one hard thud.

“And my daughter…”

Shoot. I have to continue the lie about Amira’s father being dead because if I say it’s Emris, everything falls apart.

“Is her father alive?”

“Um, no. He passed.”

Moons, how many people have I lied to already?

“I hope I can be a great stepfather to her.” Seth adds the words like they cost him nothing. Like he actually means them.

“Are you not worried about the rumors people are saying about me and Emris?” I finally look up at him.

“People have said all sorts about every Luna and Alpha I know.” He shrugs one shoulder. “Except…you can tell me if there’s something between you and Emris that you think I need to know about.”

Alpha Seth gives me the floor, and I want to hide in it. What should I tell him? Half truth? I’ve been giving hope it doesn’t catch up with me. What do I do? What do I do?

“You don’t have to.” Seth says again, those kind eyes holding mine. “If you don’t want to,“

I realize then that he’s a very understanding person. Patient. Gentle, I think I made the right choice.

out so many lies. I

But now I have to think about the other part. The bonding ceremony comes with a bonding night, Lam not in the state of mind or heart to be with another man sexually.

10:21 am

Chapter 84

PPP

I want to ask him to wait, but it’s awkward. What if he thinks I’m insulting him? What if he thinks I’m calling him a freak for going there?

“And we don’t have to do anything,” he says softly. “I mean, we barely know each other. I’d like to get to know you first, Demetra.”

The relief is instant for me. Seth has answered all the questions my heart was asking before I could even say them out loud.

*******

The day of the Bonding Ceremony.

I’m ready to marry Alpha Seth.

AD